2017 WWE PAYBACK PARTICIPANTS’ HISTORY

As I do every month, it’s time to look at this weekend’s Payback Pay-Per-View and see the history of all of the participants. To see the entire 4 year history of Payback, visit the Payback History HERE. And for any feedback or comments about this, comment below or tweet me (@hbkid718). Thanks.

Since no Main Event has been announced, here are the facts. Since there are no WWE or World Title Matches, it will be the 1st time since 2014 that the Main Event will not feature a WWE or World Title Match. If Reigns VS Strowman is the Main Event, it will be Reigns’ 4th straight Payback Main Event. The only other wrestlers to compete in a Payback Main Event are Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Randy Orton, who all last competed in the Main Event in 2015. Everyone else will be making their Payback Main Event debuts.

Since no opening matches have been announced, here are the facts. The only wrestlers on the card to compete in an opening match are Sheamus in 2015 & Cesaro in 2014. Everyone else will be making their Payback opening match debuts.

At the end of this column, I added a match that I think might be added to WWE Payback, due to the announced MizTV segment for the Kickoff Show. I added it just in case it gets added to the show at the last minute. That way if it does happen, the facts will be ready to go. If it doesn’t occur, then I apologize.

This will be the 1st ever House of Horrors Match at a Payback PPV. This will be the 1st time since 2014 that there will not be a WWE or World Championship Match at a Payback PPV. This will be Orton’s 4th Payback PPV & 1st since 2015. It will be the 1st time that he’s wrestling someone other than Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins. This will be Wyatt’s 3rd Payback PPV & 1st since 2015.

With Batista & Triple H as Evolution lost to The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, & Seth Rollins) in a No Holds Barred 6-Man Tag Team Elimination Match (6/1/14)

Lost to WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins along with Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns in a Fatal 4-Way Match (5/17/15)

Bray Wyatt (1-1-0)

Lost to John Cena in a Last Man Standing Match (6/1/14)

Defeated Ryback (5/17/15)

ROMAN REIGNS VS BRAUN STROWMAN

This will be Reigns’ 5th Payback PPV, making him the only wrestler to compete at every Payback PPV, unless Dean Ambrose gets added to the show. If it is not the main event, it will be the 1st time since 2013 that Reigns will not be in the Payback Main Event. This will be Strowman’s Payback PPV debut.

This will be the 5th United States Championship Match at a Payback PPV & it is the only title to be defended at every Payback PPV, but was on the Kickoff Show in 2016. The United States Title has never changed hands at a Payback PPV. This will be Jericho’s 3rd Payback PPV, 2nd in a row, & 1st ever Title Match at a Payback PPV. This will be Owens’ 2nd Payback PPV in a row & 1st ever Title Match at a Payback PPV.

This will be the 4th WWE Diva’s/Women’s Championship Match at a Payback PPV & 2nd in a row. The Diva’s/Women’s Title has changed hands only once at a Payback PPV, in 2013. This will be both Bayley & Bliss’ Payback PPV debut.

This will be the 3rd Tag Team Championship Match at a Payback PPV & 1st since 2015. The Tag Team Titles has never changed hands at a Payback PPV. This will be Jeff & Matt Hardy’s Payback PPV debut. This will be Cesaro’s 4th Payback PPV & 4th in a row. It will be his 1st Tag Team Title Match since 2015. This will be Sheamus’ 4th Payback PPV & 1st since 2014. It will be his 1st Tag Team Title Match. They will be the 2nd wrestlers after Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, & Seth Rollins in 2014 & 2015 to be both opponents & partners at a Payback PPV, though it was not back-to-back.

Jeff Hardy (0-0-0)

This will be Hardy’s Payback debut

Matt Hardy (0-0-0)

This will be Hardy’s Payback debut

Cesaro (0-3-0)

Lost to WWE United States Champion Sheamus (6/1/14)

With Tyson Kidd lost to WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) in a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match (5/17/15)

Lost to WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz (5/1/16)

Sheamus (3-0-0)

Defeated Damien Sandow in the Pre-Show Match prior to the PPV (6/16/13)

Defeated Cesaro to retain the WWE United States Championship (6/1/14)

Defeated Dolph Ziggler (5/17/15)

WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: AUSTIN ARIES VS NEVILLE

This will be the 1st Cruiserweight Championship Match at a Payback PPV, therefore it has never changed hands. This will be Aries’ Payback PPV debut. This will be Neville’s 2nd Payback PPV & 1st since 2015. It will be his 1st Title Match at a Payback PPV.

Austin Aries (0-0-0)

This will be Aries’ Payback debut

Neville (1-0-0)

Defeated King Barrett by Count Out (5/17/15)

SETH ROLLINS VS SAMOA JOE

This will be Rollins’ 4th Payback PPV & 1st since 2015. It will be the 1st time that he is wrestling someone other than Randy Orton. It will also be the 1st time that he is not in the same match as Roman Reigns or Dean Ambrose, as either a partner or an opponent. This will be Joe’s Payback PPV debut.

This will be the 7th Kickoff Match at a Payback PPV & 5th year in a row. It will be the 1st time since 2014 that there will be only 1 match, as both 2015 & 2016 had 2 matches. This will be Amore & Cass’ 2nd Payback PPV in a row & 1st Kickoff Match. This will be Gallows & Anderson’s Payback PPV debut.

Enzo Amore (0-0-1)

With Colin Cassady wrestled The Vaudevillains (Aiden English & Simon Gotch) to a No Contest in the Final Match of the WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament (5/1/16)

Big Cass/Colin Cassady (0-0-1)

(As Colin Cassady) With Enzo Amore wrestled The Vaudevillains (Aiden English & Simon Gotch) to a No Contest in the Final Match of the WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament (5/1/16)

This will be the 4th Intercontinental Championship Match at a Payback PPV & 2nd in a row. The Intercontinental Title has only changed hands once, in 2013. This will be Ambrose’s 5th straight Payback PPV, making him & Roman Reigns the only wrestlers to compete at every Payback PPV. It will be his 1st Intercontinental Championship Match at a Payback PPV. This will be The Miz’s 3rd Payback PPV & 2nd in a row. It will be his 3rd Intercontinental Title Match at a Payback PPV, as he has only competed in Intercontinental Title Matches at Payback. If Finn Balor gets added, then it will be Balor’s Payback PPV debut. It will be the 2nd Triple Threat Match at a Payback PPV & 2nd Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Title & 1st since 2013, which was also a title change.

Dean Ambrose (3-1-0)

Defeated Kane by Count Out to retain the WWE United States Championship (6/16/13)